Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bad Brakes: Rust triumphs over Mercury Gran Marquis]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/25/bad-brakes-rust-triumphs-over-mercury-gran-marquis/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/25/bad-brakes-rust-triumphs-over-mercury-gran-marquis/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/25/bad-brakes-rust-triumphs-over-mercury-gran-marquis/#commentsFiled under: ,

Talk About Bad Brakes - click above image for high-res gallery

There's surprisingly little to say here. "D'oh!" comes to mind, as does "Epic Fail." A picture of a spazzed out cat captioned with, "I can haz brakes?" would also work. As would a photo of Jill Wagner getting a tetanus shot. Other than that, um, you would think someone would have noticed something before it got this bad, right?

We've heard about wearing 'em down to the rotors, but this is just silly. And for all you heroic defenders of the mighty Panther platform about to come out of the woodwork, we agree - it's probably an aberration. But still... yeesh. Thanks to VW Vortex forum member barry2952 and the Gluckster for the tip!


Gallery: Bad Brakes

badbrakes50badbrakes60badbrakes70

[Source: VWVortex.com]

Bad Brakes: Rust triumphs over Mercury Gran Marquis originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bad BrakesBadBrakesBrakesGran MarquisGranMarquisMercuryMercury Gran marquisMercuryGranMarquisRustRusty BrakesRustyBrakesTue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[NHTSA institutes braking rules for large trucks, aims to cut stopping distances by 30%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/nhtsa-institutes-braking-rules-for-large-trucks-aims-to-cut-sto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/nhtsa-institutes-braking-rules-for-large-trucks-aims-to-cut-sto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/nhtsa-institutes-braking-rules-for-large-trucks-aims-to-cut-sto/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The current standard for big rig braking is that a vehicle traveling at 60 mph needs to stop in 355 feet or less. It isn't entirely clear on what sort of distance most new heavy trucks need to brake from that speed, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is sharply reducing that distance for 2012 and beyond, with a new standard of 250 feet. NHTSA says the increased braking capabilities will save 227 lives per year, while averting over 300 serious injuries.

In theory, insurance companies will also receive a boost, as fewer accidents would save $169 million in property damages per year.

NHTSA says that the new standard will help usher in the newest brake technology into U.S. truck fleets. The government agency says that increased truck safety standards have resulted in fewer truck-related traffic fatalities in the U.S., as 2008 saw a 12% drop versus 2007. Hit the jump to read over NHTSA's official press release.

[Source: NHTSA | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]

Continue reading NHTSA institutes braking rules for large trucks, aims to cut stopping distances by 30%

NHTSA institutes braking rules for large trucks, aims to cut stopping distances by 30% originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>250 feet250Feetbrakesbraking standardsBrakingStandardsnhtsatraffic safetyTrafficSafetytruck safetyTruckSafetyFri, 24 Jul 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/does-brake-dust-affect-a-cars-quality-j-d-power-thinks-so-w/#commentsFiled under: ,



When wheels are covered with brake dust, the entire car looks dirty and in many cases, a basic wash will do little to rectify the problem. Most associate brake dust as a mere nuisance, but others actually see the sight of pad particles as a fundamental problem with the functionality of a vehicle's brakes. That may sound a bit strange to some, but J.D. Power seems to agree that brake dust is indeed a quality problem.

The long-running quality survey added brake dust as one of its 228 quality concerns back in 2006 in response to several survey-takers filling in "brake dust" as a write-in complaint. David Sargent, vice president for automotive research at J.D. Power, told The New York Times that brake dust is given the same weight as serious mechanical malfunctions. The reason, says Sargent, is that customers don't feel that brake dust is "trivial," and while malfunctions can be repaired, brake dust lingers for a very long time.

When asked by The Times why brake dust is even on a quality survey, Sargent mentioned that the survey gauges consumer perception, adding "the purpose of the study is to report back problems as defined by consumers."

Conversely, Consumer Reports does not use brake dust as a quality issue. Vehicle testing head Mark Champion admitted to the Times that cleaning brake dust is annoying, "but it is not actually a failure of the brakes." What say you? Hit the jump to take part in our poll.

[Source: NY Times Wheels Blog]

Continue reading Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL)

Does brake dust affect a car's quality? J.D. Power thinks so (w/POLL) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakebrake dustbrake padbrake padsbrake problemsBrakeDustBrakePadBrakePadsBrakeProblemsbrakesconsumer reportsConsumerReportsj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJDPJdPowerquality studyQualityStudyTue, 14 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Brembo aims to mass produce carbon-ceramic brakes with new joint venture]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/02/brembo-aims-to-mass-produce-carbon-ceramic-brakes-with-new-joint/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/02/brembo-aims-to-mass-produce-carbon-ceramic-brakes-with-new-joint/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/02/brembo-aims-to-mass-produce-carbon-ceramic-brakes-with-new-joint/#commentsFiled under:

New technologies always cost the early adopters big bucks. But higher demand leads to increased supply, and costs eventually go down to the level accessibly by the common man. So while carbon-ceramic brakes might be a big ticket item right now - often dipping into five figures as optional equipment on European exotica - Brembo has formed a new joint venture with carbon-fiber supplier SGL Group with the specific goal of mass-producing the brake technology for widespread application.

Carbon-ceramic brakes offer several major benefits over cast-iron discs -- specifically light weight and the ability to dissipate heat quickly, preventing fade -- with few drawbacks. The only downside is that the extant manufacturing process is labor-intensive, driving the cost up, which is why they're currently only available on high-end exotic supercars. Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes, however, which just began operations at its Milan headquarters on the first of this month, aims to streamline the production of the rotors so that they can be implemented across the industry. (That's a good thing.) Scope out the press release below the fold for more details.

Continue reading Brembo aims to mass produce carbon-ceramic brakes with new joint venture

Brembo aims to mass produce carbon-ceramic brakes with new joint venture originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brake discsBrakeDiscsbrakesbrembobrembo brakesbrembo sgl carbon ceramic brakesBremboBrakesBremboSglCarbonCeramicBrakescarbon ceramiccarbon fiberCarbonCeramicCarbonFibercerbon ceramic brakesCerbonCeramicBrakessgl groupSglGroupthe carbon companyTheCarbonCompanyTue, 02 Jun 2009 18:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Caparo touts safety features of T1, mandatory driver's ed. for owners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/14/caparo-touts-safety-features-of-t1-mandatory-drivers-ed-for-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/14/caparo-touts-safety-features-of-t1-mandatory-drivers-ed-for-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/14/caparo-touts-safety-features-of-t1-mandatory-drivers-ed-for-o/#commentsFiled under: ,

The recent spate of negative press hampering the Caparo T1 hasn't stopped the makers of the clichéd "road-going racecar" from releasing a host of details outlining the finer points of the T1's safety systems.

While the press release after the jump goes into detail about the Caparo's lightweight, yet extremely rigid, carbon fiber composite tub and energy-absorbing snout, and regurgitates all the impressive details and stats surrounding the AP-sourced braking setup that hauls down the 1,256-pound street-legal F1 car from 100 mph in under three seconds, it's the last bit about driver training that caught our attention.

It seems that all owners of the Caparo T1 are required to attend a training course that allows them to experience the vehicle's dynamic pleasures on a closed track. If the T1 is to be driven on the street - something that's legal in the UK, but not highly advised - owners will embark on a separate course that gives them the ins and outs of driving a vehicle with such high limits on public roads.

Caparo is touting the T1 as "one of the world's safest ultra-performance vehicles," although we'd probably ask Jason Plato's opinion first if we had the means of acquiring one.

[Source: Caparo]

Continue reading Caparo touts safety features of T1, mandatory driver's ed. for owners

Caparo touts safety features of T1, mandatory driver's ed. for owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apap brakesApBrakesbrakescaparocaparo brakescaparo t1CaparoBrakesCaparoT1driver educationdriver trainingDriverEducationdrivers educationDriversEducationDriverTrainingsafetyt1Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Brembo buys up Hayes Lemmerz's North American brake facilities]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/09/brembo-buys-up-hayes-lemmerzs-north-american-brake-facilities/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/09/brembo-buys-up-hayes-lemmerzs-north-american-brake-facilities/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/09/brembo-buys-up-hayes-lemmerzs-north-american-brake-facilities/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Consolidation of aftermarket brake manufacturers seems to be all the rage recently, with Centric consuming both PowerSlot and Stoptech, and now, Brembo has bought out all of Hayes Lemmerz's North American brake-components division. The Italian parts manufacturer dolled out a cool $58 million for both the Homer, Michigan and Apodaca, Mexico facilities, and in the process acquired the company's 250 employees. We're hoping that the deal bodes well for those of us looking to upgrade our current stoppers with beefy, red Brembo calipers.

The full press release is posted after the jump.

Continue reading Brembo buys up Hayes Lemmerz's North American brake facilities

Brembo buys up Hayes Lemmerz's North American brake facilities originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakesbrembohayes lemmerzHayesLemmerzFri, 09 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Pedestrian safety inspires EU to consider better brake requirement]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/pedestrian-safety-inspires-eu-to-consider-better-brake-requireme/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/pedestrian-safety-inspires-eu-to-consider-better-brake-requireme/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/pedestrian-safety-inspires-eu-to-consider-better-brake-requireme/#commentsFiled under: ,



Every time we hear that the European Commission has come up with a new proposal for the car industry, the general consensus amongst the Autoblog team has been 'oh no, not another one.' This time around, the Commission's latest proposal actually makes sense to us and is something we'd like to see implemented in other parts of the globe. Officials on Monday proposed that all new cars be fitted with an advanced braking system that can detect an emergency and cut reaction times for applying the brakes.

The hope is that all cars from 2009 onwards will feature new Brake Assist Systems as part of a greater plan to protect pedestrians. The set-up works by releasing pressurized brake fluid into the braking system as soon as the driver touches the brake pedal, applying greater stopping power in an instant.

Up to 1,100 lives could be saved each year, according to European Union officials. The good news is that the auto industry is also backing the proposal and the costs involved are expected to be minimal.

[Source: Detroit News]

Pedestrian safety inspires EU to consider better brake requirement originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brake Assist SystemBrakeAssistSystembrakesEUMon, 15 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Brembo lands Lexus IS-F brake deal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/brembo-lands-lexus-is-f-brake-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/brembo-lands-lexus-is-f-brake-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/brembo-lands-lexus-is-f-brake-deal/#commentsFiled under: ,


click above image for high-res pics of the Lexus IS-F

When the Lexus IS-F debuted at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, it was wearing a set of black painted calipers branded with the Lexus name. When the car officially goes on sale in the second quarter of 2008, it will be wearing a set of gold painted Brembos. Toyota has officially cut a deal with big name brake manufacturer Brembo to supply the stopping power for its high-performance IS-F sedan. It's the first time Toyota and Brembo have partnered, which makes sense considering the only car from Toyota that could go fast enough to require big-name braking power was probably the last generation Supra.

Of course, having your car wear Brembos isn't just about achieving excellent stopping distances, it's also about getting the Brembo name on your calipers, which carries a lot of weight with performance-minded consumers. With this deal, Toyota will be infusing the Lexus IS-F with some instanst cachet right out of the gate, though there are plenty of other areas in which the car will need to perform well to earn its stripes.

[Source: just-auto, sub. req'd]

Gallery: Lexus IS-F

Brembo lands Lexus IS-F brake deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakebrakesbrembocaliperIS-FFri, 13 Apr 2007 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part III]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/21/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-iii/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/21/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-iii/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/21/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-iii/#commentsFiled under: ,



After dedicating the last several years to the pursuit of power and handling, we're finally putting forth an effort to slow down our car. Consider this to be an indicaton of hard-earned maturity (as opposed to our receding hairlines, which are just signs of getting old).

Our new parts showed up in the second installment of this write-up, and after leaving them out in the barn for several months, we finally found some time to improve the stopping ability of our 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS. With improved stopping ability only a few simple steps away, we'll be able to hit future autocrosses and open-track days with more confidence.

Continue reading The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part III

The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part III originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jan 2007 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakescaliperceramicCorvettegarageimpalakore3padsPBRprojectspindlesstrackupgradeSun, 21 Jan 2007 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Maintenance/Project Garage: 2006 wrap-up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/autoblog-maintenance-project-garage-2006-wrap-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/autoblog-maintenance-project-garage-2006-wrap-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/autoblog-maintenance-project-garage-2006-wrap-up/#commentsFiled under: ,



In 2006, we spent a lot of time spinning wrenches here in the Autoblog Garage in the process of taking on common maintenance tasks and a few performance upgrades. For your convenience, we've compiled links to each of the posts after the jump.

We already have some things in the works for 2007, but we'd also love to get suggestions for additional posts from our readership. Keep in mind that we need projects that have a relatively broad appeal, and we're a bit limited in our selection of "test subjects"; beyond that, we're all ears, so please share your ideas.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance/Project Garage: 2006 wrap-up

Autoblog Maintenance/Project Garage: 2006 wrap-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axlebrakesdifferentialfilterfluidgarageimpalaK2500liftlubemaintenance garageoil changeproject garageProjectGaragerepairroadmastertirestransmissionTue, 02 Jan 2007 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/die-die-die-things-that-should-be-euthanized-in-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/die-die-die-things-that-should-be-euthanized-in-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/die-die-die-things-that-should-be-euthanized-in-2007/#commentsFiled under: ,



(Ed. - The views expressed in this post are those of Dan Roth and not Autoblog in general. Dan asked if he could channel the grumpy old man inside of him, and for better or worse, we took off his leash.)

Our morning commute often gives us time to contemplate our navels, as the traffic engineers haven't spent enough time with TrafficSim around here. When the radio gets too boring, it's always interesting to analyze the vehicles around us. Here's some stuff we think is gangrenous, and some is just crap.

Toyota Camry Solara
Please go away. You're ugly. Yes, yes, you're a Camry, rah rah. You're ugly. Especially the convertible. Please just give us a two-door version of your only mildly less ugly Camry sedan sibling, if you must.

Big cars that were once small
The Civic was once a small car, now it's almost as big as Accords once were. The Nissan Versa and Dodge Caliber are similarly not-too-small cars being marketed on the pretense of being compact. The Fit is a step in the right direction, and we realize that all the required safety gear makes light cars largely a thing of the past, but the efficiency-lovers among us can't square the fact that these cars were once small and efficient, and now they're larger and less efficient.

Follow the jump for more items on the hit list.

Continue reading Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007

Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automatic transmissionsAutomaticTransmissionsbrakesCamry SolaraCamrySolaraDesigndrum brakesDrumBrakesElectronicsICENav SystemsNavSystemsobsoleterantssmall carsSmallCarsTechnologyThu, 21 Dec 2006 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[VW recalling recent Passats in the US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/vw-recalling-recent-passats-in-the-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/vw-recalling-recent-passats-in-the-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/vw-recalling-recent-passats-in-the-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Volkswagen announced today that it is issuing two safety recalls for some 2006 and 2007 model year Passat sedans and some 2007 Passat wagons. According to the automaker's press release, the first recall affects some 2006 Passat sedans that have a wiper motor that could conk out in heavy rain from moisture entering the wiper motor. The second recall involves 2006/07 Passat sedans and some 2007 Passat wagons that could have a power brake vacuum line that fractures and becomes disconnected when it's cold outside. VW says about 62,000 vehicles are affected, all of which were sold in the U.S. and Canada. Owners will get a letter in the mail from VW with instructions on how to find their dealer and get these issues fixed fast.

The full press release can be found after the jump.

[Source: VW]

Continue reading VW recalling recent Passats in the US

VW recalling recent Passats in the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakespassatpassat wagonPassatWagonrecallsafetyvolkswagenvwwiperFri, 08 Dec 2006 16:13:00 EST<![CDATA[eBraking cuts stopping distance 50%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/ebraking-cuts-stopping-distance-50/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/ebraking-cuts-stopping-distance-50/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/ebraking-cuts-stopping-distance-50/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Could technology from an 18th century horse & buggy become the latest high-performance braking innovation? Back then, they used a wedge of wood to bring the wheel to a stop. Since then, we have been through several innovations in braking, with the latest being with multi-piston calipers, squeezing ceramic-carbon rotors with a multitude of brake pad formulations. According to Siemens, the future of braking technology is called EWB or Electronic Wedge Braking. Along with a claim that they have regularly experienced braking distances that are less than half of what's required by standard brakes, they also claim to utilize less than 10% of the energy needed by hydraulic brakes and weight substantially less than their conventional counterparts. What's more, the EWB will eliminate the need for brake lines, a servo-unit and a brake fluid reservoir, as it is entirely driven by 12-volts of electricity.

Here are a couple of other really cool features of the system. The faster the vehicle is traveling when the brakes are applied, the more powerful the brakes immediately become. The rotor momentum draws the pad further up the series of interlocking wedges applying progressively more pressure and increasing efficiency. Each wheel can also be electronically modulated to allow for much more precise anti-lock and stability processes as well as eliminating the pulsating pedal associated with the current ABS systems.

When will the EWB system hit the road? Possibly as early as 2008 on a Porsche, BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Want more info? Click the read link.

eBraking cuts stopping distance 50% originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakeselectronic wedge brakingElectronicWedgeBrakingEWBSiemenstechnologyFri, 10 Nov 2006 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part IV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-iv/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-iv/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-iv/#commentsFiled under: ,



One of the goals of the Autoblog Project Garage posts is to give our readers some insight into the scope of various projects, including a sense of the amount of time it might take to complete a job given our usual variety of distractions. As a case in point, the first post concerning a rear-disc conversion on a 1996 Buick Roadmaster (don't laugh - it's much faster than it appears) took place nearly two and a half months ago, and we're just now wrapping things up with the install of an axle that we rebuilt (see the second and third posts for more info).

So, with that being said, let's crawl underneath the car, remove the old drum-brake axle, and slide in the freshened Impala SS rear axle with its 12" disc brakes, lower gearing, and limited slip diff.

Continue reading Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part IV

Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part IV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-boltaxlebrakesdiscsGarageGMImpalaProjectRoadmasterswapThu, 09 Nov 2006 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part II]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: ,


With the axle disassembled in the previous installment of this project, it is now time to start putting things back together with fresh parts as needed.

One surprise that we encountered during the tear-down of the axle was a significant amount of debris; namely, there was a lot of dirt inside the axle. Yet, the internals were in good shape, so we do not believe that the axle was operated with contamination. Our guess is that either it came from a flood car (not exactly a stretch, considering last year's events), or was submerged at some point during the salvage process.

Continue reading Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part II

Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part II originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axlebrakesdiscericgaragegearsimpalalimited slipposiprojectrearroadmasterswapWed, 20 Sep 2006 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part I]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/autoblog-project-garage-axle-swap-part-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Here's a great example of a project that has undergone a bit of "feature creep". Oh, it started innocently enough, with my wife asking if anything could be done to improve the brake feel of our 1996 Buick Roadmaster. Sure, I said - we can ditch the rear drum brakes, and install a set of discs from either an Impala SS or a Caprice 9C1 (the infamous "cop car" version). That task would be easy to pull off in an afternoon or two.

About five minutes of searching on eBay turned up a complete set of used Impala brakes, but our $200 maximum bid wasn't enough to secure the parts. A little more browsing turned up a complete used Impala SS axle, with 90-day warranty, for $349. That'd allow us to upgrade the Roadmaster's extra tall 2.56:1 rear gears with the Impala's somewhat more reasonable 3.08 gears, and if the used axle's limited slip still functioned properly after 86,000 miles, it could replace the absolutely shot Auburn that wasn't doing a damn thing to keep both of the Buick's rear tires spinning together. A click on the Buy It Now button, a bit of correspondence, and the axle was on its way to a local shipping depot.

Continue reading Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part I

Autoblog Project Garage: Axle swap, Part I originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axlebrakesdiscgarageimpalaprojectrearroadmasterTue, 15 Aug 2006 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part II]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With our transmission project on hold while we await the arrival of some parts, it was finally time to open up the large and heavy (81 pounds!) box of Kore3 brake parts that showed up on our doorstep about a month ago. We covered the selection process in Part I, and now it's time to dive in and see exactly what we received.

Continue reading The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part II

The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part II originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>450brakebrakescalipercorvettediscericimpalakore3projectrotorssTue, 25 Jul 2006 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part II]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-ii/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In the first half of this particular write-up, we showed the basic process of replacing the front rotors and pads on a VW Jetta. Now we'll go ahead and hit the rear brakes, since the car is already up in the air and we're already covered up to our elbows in grease and brake fluid. We'll also go through the process of flushing out the old fluid and bleeding the brakes, since this car was far overdue for that task.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part II

Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part II originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoblog Maintenance GarageAutoblog Project GaragebrakesdiscjettamaintenancerepairserviceVWThu, 06 Jul 2006 15:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part I]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/05/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/05/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/05/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While many aspects of maintenance can be put off until the odometer rolls past 100K, odds are that you'll be doing some work on your vehicle's brakes long before then. Vehicles continue to get heavier and our highway speeds are ever-increasing, both of which put an incredible amount of strain on even a modern braking system. Pads and rotors will wear, and the brake fluid will become contaminated with moisture. If you're lucky enough to live in the Midwest, you can also look forward to the effects of corrosion on braking components. The braking system should be inspected every time the tires are rotated, and one can expect to go through the front brakes every 20-40,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and its usage (rear brakes often go much longer, due to their lesser role).

We'll walk through the process of servicing the disk brakes on a friend's 2000-ish VW Jetta. This vehicle was in need of new pads, and the owner decided that he also wanted to install new rotors rather than deal with the hassle of turning the ones currently on the vehicle, as the vehicle had been sitting for over a year.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part I

Autoblog Maintenance 201: Brake pad replacement, Part I originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jul 2006 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoblog GarageAutoblogGaragebrakesDOT3DOT4maintenancepadsrotorsservicetechWed, 05 Jul 2006 13:06:00 EST<![CDATA[The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/the-autoblog-project-garage-big-brake-install-part-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Despite its 4200 lbs of "road-hugging mass", my '96 Chevrolet Impala SS manages to handle an autocross course with surprising grace and agility (that is, if one wants to apply such adjectives to an obnoxiously loud sedan that negotiates cones by frequent and well-timed applications of full opposite lock steering). Get it onto an open track, and then it's yet even more able to put its considerable power and adhesion to good use - for all of two or three laps. That's when the brake fluid reaches its boiling point and the pedal sinks to the floor, which is surely one of the most sickening feelings one can experience in an automobile.

I've already upgraded the stock brakes with Raybestos rotors that have thicker "cheeks" than the stock parts, and a set of Raybestos BruteStop pads live up to their name while providing friction (and rotor wear) similar to that of 80-grit sandpaper and a terrible amount of squealing and brake dust. The stock 95/5 front/rear braking bias was also modified to a much more reasonable 70/30 via a simple proportioning valve modification. Even when hot, the upgrades deliver sufficient stopping power and cured the vehicle's rotor-warping habit, but a 12" diameter and 1" thick rotor simply does not have sufficient mass and surface area to dissipate several hundred kilowatts of power many times per lap. Quite simply, the performance of the brakes have failed to keep up with the rest of the vehicle.  

[We've got far more reading on brake system options for the Burgundy Boat after the jump...]

Continue reading The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part 1

The Autoblog Project Garage: Big-brake install, Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoblog Project GarageAutoblogProjectGarageB-bodybrakesDIYImpalatestingWed, 14 Jun 2006 17:12:00 EST